Top 7 best countries for families in 2026

Families relocating abroad in 2026 are placing greater emphasis on schools, childcare, healthcare, safety and quality of life when choosing where to live.

The Global Relocation Index by Rumavi ranks countries across four areas: financial conditions, livability, safety and settling, reflecting factors that can influence the experience of families moving abroad.

Estonia ranks first among the seven countries, supported by strong scores for safety and settling. Taiwan and Czechia also perform strongly on safety, while Singapore records the highest settling score.

Malaysia stands out financially, recording the strongest financial score among the countries on the list.

The ranking highlights how family relocation decisions extend beyond cost and income. Access to public services, clean air, stability, safety and the ability to settle can all affect long-term family life.

Read also:Meet 16 heirs of Nigeria’s power families vying for office ahead 2027

The seven countries offer different advantages, depending on the priorities of families considering an international move in 2026.

Here are the seven countries that rank highest for families in 2026.

1. Estonia

Estonia ranks first with an overall score of 74.5. The country scores 66 in financial factors, 73 for livability, 80 for safety and 79 for settling.

Its safety and settling scores place it ahead of the other countries on the list. For families, these areas can affect how easily they adjust to a new country and how secure they feel in their daily lives.

Estonia’s position also reflects the balance between its financial conditions and the wider factors considered in the ranking.

2. Taiwan

Taiwan ranks second with a score of 72.4. It records 70 for financial factors, 73 for livability, 78 for safety and 68 for settling.

The country performs well across three of the four measures, with safety recording the highest score at 78.

For families, access to services, safety and day-to-day living conditions can be key considerations when deciding whether to move to another country.

3. Czechia

Czechia ranks third with an overall score of 71.9. The country scores 67 in financial factors, 70 in livability, 78 in safety and 74 in settling.

Its safety score is among the highest on the list, while its settling score shows that it also performs well in helping people establish themselves.

The combination puts Czechia among the countries families may consider when looking for a place to live, work and raise children.

4. Lithuania

Lithuania shares a score of 71.9 with Czechia and ranks fourth. It records 68 for financial factors, 73 for livability, 74 for safety and 71 for settling.

Its livability score is higher than that of Czechia, while its safety and settling scores remain above 70.

The figures indicate a balance across the four categories rather than reliance on one area alone.

5. Portugal

Portugal ranks fifth with a score of 71.3. It scores 65 for financial factors, 71 for livability, 74 for safety and 75 for settling.

The country records its highest score in settling, suggesting that the ability to establish a life after relocation is an important part of its position.

Portugal also records a safety score of 74 and a livability score of 71, placing both measures above 70.

6. Singapore

Singapore ranks sixth with a score of 71.2. It records 63 for financial factors, 63 for livability, 80 for safety and 83 for settling.

Its settling score is the highest among all seven countries, while its safety score matches Estonia’s at 80.

However, Singapore records the lowest financial and livability scores among the countries in the ranking, showing that its overall position is supported by its safety and settling results.

7. Malaysia

Malaysia has a score of 71.2. It records the highest financial score among the seven countries at 83, followed by 71 for livability, 62 for safety and 69 for settling.

Its financial score is also the highest in the entire ranking, while its safety score is the lowest among the seven countries.

Despite this difference between its category scores, Malaysia’s combined result places it among the countries ranked for families in 2026.